Arts Hound

Oscar prep:Who has two hours for a movie anymore (or three hours, ahem, The Wolf of Wall Street)? BijouArt Cinemas (on 13th) and the Bijou Metro (downtown) begin screening 2014 Oscar-nominated short films Jan. 31, including animated, live action and documentary films. EW picks: The Lady in Number 6 about Alice Herz Sommer, the world’s oldest pianist and Holocaust survivor at 109 years old; the Steampunk-inspired animated hijinx of Mr. Hublot; The Voorman Problem starring Martin Freeman (of Hobbit fame) as a doctor treating a patient who believes he’s a god. Also at Bijou Art Cinemas Feb. 6, the Encircle Film Series presents Heist: Who Stole the American Dream?, a documentary about the crumbling middle class, followed by a Skype discussion with director Donald Goldmacher.

New kids on the block: Artist Shanna Trumbly is the latest to join Last Friday ArtWalk with her new studio at 267 Van Buren in the Whit. See her latest painting, “Ode to the Dandelion,” on Jan. 31. Trumbly says of the new piece, “I was shown when I was young, as many of us were, that the wish of a dandelion was not only a very special and fascinating way for nature to continue the growth of a species, but also a way for us to set our intention with clarity by making a wish.” Also new to the LFAW scene are indie bookers Behavior Castle with their first art show Favoritism — All Your Best Stuff,featuring art memorabilia and thrift store treasures,at 543 Blair (formerly Paper Moon Photo Studio).

OSLP (Oregon Supported Living Program) Arts & Culture Program recently hired Mija Andrade — former MECCA executive director — to be a full-time resident artist. OSLP Arts & Culture offers weekly arts workshops in fiber arts, photography, dance, music and more for individuals with developmental disabilities, but also for the community in general, to “build bridges to a more diverse and inclusive community.”

Cottage Theatre opens its 2014 season Jan. 31 with the aurora borealis-tinged romantic comedy Almost, Maine, composed of nine vignettes about a mythical Maine town. In other theater news, Salem has a new musical theater company: Enlightened Theatrics. Enlightened Theatrics will open its season with The Last Five Years, running Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 30 to Feb. 9, at the Historic Reed Opera House. See enlightenedtheatrics.org for more info.